Cork rot? How can you be sure?

I cracked open an older bottle of whiskey I've had for sometime, and noticed that the tip of the cork looked darker than I'm used to, almost like it's spoiling. Nothing has broken off, but it certainly looks more "swollen" and wet than normal.

While I can't taste a difference in the whiskey, I'm wondering if anyone has ever opened up "corked" whiskey. What are the signs?

Re: Cork rot? How can you be sure?

Mith the term 'corked' means the cork has suffered a bacterial infection that has chemically altered the bottle contents, spoiled them in fact. You will spot it immediately if you ever run across it because as soon as the bottle is opened the room is filled with the smell of sewage. I imagine that's what the whisky tastes like as well but I've never been brave enough to taste it.

Dried, crumbly, broken or discolored corks are a nuisance but don't spoil the whisky, just my mood when struggling to get it open.

Re: Cork rot? How can you be sure?

Plungerhead wine has a great rubber stopper top that fits most bourbon bottles (except the wide-lipped ones). I think I have 2 or 3 bottles open right now that have Plungerhead stoppers in them (a few older Turkeys). The wine isn't terrible, either.